Sheet stacking apparatus for a duplicating machine or the like

Claim 2

In a sheet handling mechanism which includes first sheet feeding means and second sheet feeding means arranged to receive sheets one at a time from the first sheet feeding means, wherein the sheets are fed through said first sheet feeding means at a rate greater than the rate they are fed through said second sheet feeding means, a stacking apparatus comprising, arresting means adjacent the entrance of said second sheet feeding means and adapted to engage the leading portion of a first sheet thereby temporarily to arrest movement of said first sheet, elevating means adjacent the outlet of said first sheet feeding means and engageable with the underside of said first sheet for elevating the trailing portion thereof above the leading portion thereof, said elevating means acting continuously against the underside of said first sheet thereby to maintain the trailing portion thereof above the leading portion thereof at all times that the leading portion of said first sheet is engaged with said arresting means, guide means for directing the leading portion of a second successive sheet to a position adjacent the underside of said first sheet, said elevating means being adapted to engage the underside of said second sheet for elevating the trailing portion thereof above the leading portion thereof in the same manner as said first sheet and thereby to stack said second sheet against said first sheet with at least a portion of the upper surface of the former in coextensive engagement with a corresponding portion of the lower surface of the latter, said guide means and said elevating means cooperating to stack each successive sheet with its trailing portion elevated above its leading portion and with at least a portion of the upper surface of each successive sheet in coextensive engagement with a corresponding portion of the lower surface of the preceding sheet.

Claim 3

The stacking apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said elevating means comprises, planar support means extending generally transversely of the path of sheet travel and mounted in an inclined position with the lower portion of said support means adjacent the outlet of said first sheet feeding means and with the upper portion of said support means disposed upstream with respect to said lower portion, an elevating element adjacent said support means and adapted for frictional engagement with the underside of eAch of said sheets, powered means for moving said element along a path, a portion of which path extends in an upward direction generally parallel with said support means.

Claim 4

The stacking apparatus according to claim 2 further defined by, said elevating element being constituted by a belt, upper and lower rollers supporting said belt, said powered means including drive means connected to at least one of said rollers.

Claim 5

In a sheet handling mechanism which includes first sheet feeding means and a second sheet feeding means arranged to receive sheets one at a time from the first sheet feeding means, wherein the sheets are fed through said first sheet feeding means at a rate greater than the rate they are fed through said second sheet feeding means, a stacking apparatus mounted between said first and second sheet feeding means and comprising: a. arresting means adjacent the entrance of said second sheet feeding means and adapted to engage the leading portion of a first sheet thereby temporarily to arrest movement of said first sheet, said arresting means including a roller; b. drive means for said roller; c. gauge means defining, with the periphery of said roller, a slot for feeding said sheets one at a time to said second sheet feeding means in response to rotation of said roller; d. first sensing means operable in response to the presence of said leading portion of said first sheet at said arresting means to deactuate said drive means; e. elevating means adjacent the outlet of said first sheet feeding means and engageable with the underside of said first sheet for elevating the trailing portion thereof; f. guide means for directing the leading edge portion of said second successive sheet to a position adjacent the underside of said first sheet; g. said elevating means being adapted to engage the underside of said second sheet for elevating the trailing portion thereof above the leading portion thereof and thereby to stack said second sheet against said first sheet with at least a portion of the upper surface of the former in coextensive engagement with a corresponding portion of the lower surface of the latter, said guide means and said elevating means cooperating to stack each successive sheet with its trailing portion elevated above its leading portion and with at least a portion of the upper surface of each successive sheet in coextensive engagement with a corresponding portion of the lower surface of the preceding sheet; h. second sensing means upstream of said first sensing means and operable in response to the passage of each sheet thereby to generate a signal for the activation of said drive means.

Claim 6

In a sheet handling mechanism which includes first sheet feeding means and a second sheet feeding means arranged to receive sheets one at a time from the first sheet feeding means, wherein the sheets are fed through said first sheet feeding means at a rate greater than the rate they are fed through said second sheet feeding means, a stacking apparatus mounted between said first and second sheet feeding means and comprising: a. arresting means adjacent the entrance of said second sheet feeding means and adapted to engage the leading portion of a first sheet thereby temporarily to arrest movement of said first sheet, said arresting means including a roller; b. drive means for said roller; c. gauge means defining, with the periphery of said roller, a slot for feeding said sheets one at a time to said second sheet feeding means in response to rotation of said roller; d. first sensing means operable in response to the presence of said leading portion of said first sheet at said arresting means to deactuate said drive means; e. elevating means adjacent the outlet of said first sheet feeding means and engageable with the underside of said first sheet for elevating the trailing portion thereof; f. guide means for directing the leading edge portion of said second successive sheet to a position adjacent the underside of said first sheet; g. said elevating means being adapted to engage the underside of said second sheet for elevating the trailing portion thereof above the leading portion thereof and thereby to stack said second sheet against said first sheet with at least a portion of the upper surface of the former in coextensive engagement with a corresponding portion of the lower surface of the latter, said guide means and said elevating means cooperating to stack each successive sheet with its trailing portion elevated above its leading portion and with at least a portion of the upper surface of each successive sheet in coextensive engagement with a corresponding portion of the lower surface of the preceding sheet; h. second sensing means upstream of said first sensing means and operable in response to the passage of each sheet thereby to generate a signal for the activation of said drive means.

Claim 7

The stacking apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said elevating means comprises, planar support means extending generally transversely of the path of sheet travel and mounted in an inclined position with the lower portion of said support means adjacent the outlet of said first sheet feeding means and with the upper portion of said support means disposed upstream with respect to said lower portion, an elevating element adjacent said support means and adapted for frictional engagement with the underside of each of said sheets, powered means for moving said element along a path, a portion of which path extends in an upward direction generally parallel with said support means.

Claim 8

The stacking apparatus according to claim 5 further defined by, said elevating element being constituted by a belt, upper and lower rollers supporting said belt, said powered means including drive means connected to at least one of said rollers.

Claim 9

The stacking apparatus according to claim 4 further defined by: a. said drive means including an electric motor; b. said first and second sensing means including respective first and second switches; and c. a control circuit connected with said electric motor and said first and second switches, said control circuit acting normally to energize said electric motor when said second sensing means detects passage of a sheet and to deenergize said electric motor when said first sensing means detects the presence of a sheet.

Claim 10

In a machine of the type including a first section for making an electrostatic copy from a sheet of original material, a second section for converting said copy to a master sheet, and a third section for making duplicates of said master sheet by direct contact between the latter and receiving sheets, wherein said first and second sections are capable of making a first master sheet and successively one or more additional master sheets in a period of time less than the time required for said third section to make a selected number of duplicates of said first master sheet, a sheet stacking apparatus mounted between said second and third sections and comprising: a. first means engageable with the leading portion of an additional master sheet for temporarily holding the latter adjacent the entrance of said third section at times when the latter is making duplicates from said first master; b. second means including elevating means engageable with the trailing portion of said additional master for lifting said trailing portion above said leading portion said elevating means acting continuously against the underside of said additional master thereby to maintain the trailing portion thereof above the leading portion thereof at all times that the leading portion of said additional master is engaged with said first means; and c. said first and second means cooperating to stack each successive additional master against the immediately preceding master with a portion of the upper surface of each of said additional masters in coextensive contact with a corresponding portion of the lower surface of the immediately preceding master.

Claim 11

In a machine of the type including a first section for making an electrostatic copy from a sheet of original material, a second section for converting said copy to a master sheet, and a third section for making duplicates of said master sheet by direct contact between the latter and receiving sheets, wherein said first and second sections are capable of making a first master sheet and successively one or more additional master sheets in a period of time less than the time required for said third section to make a selected number of duplicates of said first master sheet, a sheet stacking apparatus mounted between said second and third sections and comprising: a. first means engageable with the leading portion of an additional master sheet for temporarily holding the latter adjacent the entrance of said third section at times when the latter is making duplicates from said first master; b. second means including elevating means engageable with the trailing portion of said additional master for lifting said trailing portion above said leading portion said elevating means acting continuously against the underside of said additional master thereby to maintain the trailing portion thereof above the leading portion thereof at all times that the leading portion of said additional master is engaged with said first means; and c. said first and second means cooperating to stack each successive additional master against the immediately preceding master with a portion of the upper surface of each of said additional masters in coextensive contact with a corresponding portion of the lower surface of the immediately preceding master.

Claim 12

The sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 8 further defined by: a. said first means including a roller and drive means therefor, which roller is arranged to engage said first additional master sheet for feeding the same to the entrance of said third section; b. first sensing means operable in response to the presence of the leading edge portion of said first additional master sheet at said entrance of said third section; c. second sensing means operable in response to the passage of an additional master sheet at a location upstream from said first sensing means; and d. control means connected with said first and second sensing means for actuating said drive means upon operation of said second sensing means and for deactuating said drive means upon operation of said first sensing means.

Claim 13

The stacking apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said elevating means comprises, planar support means extending generally transversely of the path of sheet travel and mounted in an inclined position with the lower portion of said support means adjacent the outlet of said first sheet feeding means and with the upPer portion of said support means disposed upstream with respect to said lower portion, an elevating element adjacent said support means and adapted for frictional engagement with the underside of each of said sheets, powered means for moving said element along a path, a portion of which path extends in an upward direction generally parallel with said support means.